1 Thessalonians 5:27
by Don Costello 11/08/2008 / Bible Studies
1 Thessalonians 5:27
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
a. charge [3726 * horkizo] [Zodhiates: to put to an oath, make to swear.]
b. epistle [1992 * epistole] [Zodhiates: a letter.
c. read [314 * anaginosko] [Zodhiates: to perceive accurately, later it came to mean to recognize. In the NT and Sept. it always meant read.]
d. Paul received the New Covenant gospel from Jesus himself.
1). Galatians 1:11, 12 "But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
2). The epistles of Paul embody that gospel.
e. Paul knew that the epistles he was writing were the words and commands of God.
1). 1 Corinthians 14:36, 37 "What? came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."
2). This is why he commanded, at the direction of the Lord, for the letters to be distributed and read and studied by the whole church.
3). This explains Colossians 4:16.
a). Colossians 3:16 "And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
b). It appears that the epistle to the Colossians would answer some questions in a letter that was written by the Laodiceans.
f. Before Peter's death there was a group or body of Paul's letters that was distributed among the churches. These epistles were regarded as being on equal footing or authority as the Old Covenant.
1). 2 Peter 3:15, 16 "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.
